The Cycle Undone by The Twenty Committee

Album Review

Have a new album you'd like us to review? Let us know.

Stars

The Cycle Undone

The Twenty Committee

388

USA

As we approach the close of 2023 and compile Prog Radio’s list of the year's best albums, a late contender emerges, set to release on December 12th. Geoffrey Langley, keyboardist for Renaissance since 2016, is about to release the sophomore album from his crossover prog project, The Twenty Committee. Although I initially planned to review this album post-Thanksgiving, a pre-holiday listen convinced me of its urgency. With the festive season upon us, I couldn't delay sharing this gem.

Geoffrey's debut album, sparked by encouragement from Neal Morse, led to the release of "A Lifeblood Psalm" in 2013. Fast forward a decade, and we're greeted with The Twenty Committee's second offering, "The Cycle Undone." This follows my recent review of Moon Safari’s new album, another ten-year masterpiece. Maybe that’s the magic number for producing really great records, as "The Cycle Undone" proves to be equally remarkable.

A highlight of the album is the nearly 14-minute epic title track featuring the illustrious Annie Haslam from Renaissance. Annie’s vocals are a delightful addition, yet it's Geoffrey’s commanding lead vocals throughout the rest of the album that equally captivate. There’s also plenty of virtuosos musicianship on display, particularly in the 12-minute instrumental, Recodified, and some amazing guitar work by Jeff Bishop in songs like Robot Death and Embers.

The sound quality is exceptional, thanks to the mastering skills of Larry Fast (keyboardist for Peter Gabriel) and the engineering finesse of Bret Kull (Echolyn) and Jeff Bishop.

This album is a vibrant mix of melodic, crossover prog, and jazz elements, maintaining an upbeat tempo throughout. It features eight compelling tracks totaling 57 minutes – all remarkable, with no weak links. If I were to be asked to give someone one album that exemplifies the Prog Radio sound, this would be the album…melodic yet sophisticated prog throughout. I’m not sure even Geoffrey understands just how good this album is. I hope we don’t need to wait another 10 years for more.

This album is a noteworthy addition to an already impressive year in prog music. Make sure to add "The Cycle Undone" to your collection and avoid losing it in the year-end hustle. Tune into Prog Radio to hear the first single, "Forevermore," and stay tuned for the full album release on December 12th. We promise an array of exciting tracks from this wonderful album, ready to grace your ears and our airwaves.

5 Stars!

UPDATE: Click the YouTube icon below to check out the video for Embers, one of our favorite songs on the album.